Highlights on Faces [Archive]

Crawl

07-15-2005, 02:40 PM

I've noticed on many wedding photojournalism sites that the brides faces have extreme highlights that blow out the detail but give a nice soft look. However many aspects are exposed correctly. I assume this must be done in PS. Is it done by dodging, using curves or other methods? Does anyone know how this is done most of the time? 
 
Thanks

palomino

07-15-2005, 04:36 PM

Hi- I think I have seen this done. it would be popular in bridal photography b/c slight overexposure makes the skin texture look smoother and brighter. I think you could do this in PS by combining 2 images. Shoot one exposed properly for the background, then take one overexposed by one stop (the bracketing function on your camera can be set for this). Layer the darker(normal) one on top and add a layer mask so you can "paint off" the face to expose the highlights. If you have only one image, you might be able to achieve the same effect by creating a duplicate layer and "overexposing" that layer yourself using either levels or curves, and then combining them in the same way. This is just one way... as with everything else in PS... there is a million ways to do the same thing. I'm sure some others around here will have some other suggestions, and then it will just be a matter of preference for you. Good luck! 
 
- kate

Studioso

07-18-2005, 10:25 AM

here a trick few know: 
press ctrl + alt + ~ (that wiggle at the top left corner of the keyboard). 
this will select all highlights. you can than copy them to a new layer, and either brighten them, or try changing blending mode to screen. you will probably want to lower opacity a bit after this. 
 
BTW: it's not that hard to get bright highlights in first place! particularly in wide soft lit situations ( lie one single window on a clowdy day or a big soft box) a picture exposed correctly for shadows will give this nice highlights, called specular highlights.

DrJalapeno

07-20-2005, 10:02 AM

"...here's a trick few know.." 
__________________________________________________ _______________________________ 
 
<A HREF=http://www.popphoto.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=26056&forumID=4&catID=&search=1&searchstring= TARGET='_blank'>http://www.popphoto.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=26056&forumID=4&catID=&search=1&searchstring=</A>

Studioso

07-20-2005, 08:21 PM

Date: 7/20/2005 8:02:56 AM 
Author: Mr. Jalapeño 
''...here's a trick few know..'' 
__________________________________________________ _______________________________ 
 
http://www.popphoto.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=26056&forumID=4&catID=&search=1&searchstring= 
I misspelled: i meant "few knew"... before you came along!

Deadhead

07-23-2005, 04:13 AM

There are a number of ways to achieve these effects in camera by using large reflectors and overexposure to give a high-key effect. 
 
There are a number of soft filters that also provide this effect. These filters come from a number of different vendors under a variety of names such as the classic soft, pro mist or pro fog. 
 
It all depends on the overall effect you want to achieve and a bit of trial and error until you find the combination that works for you on a consistant basis. 
 
Yes, many of these effects can also be achieved using an image editing software. I personally am not very good at PS and much of the time the effects I am trying to simulate look exactly that - simulated. Getting it right in camera works best for me most of the time.